The TESO Diabetes Caravan

PROJECT PROPOSAL

Campaign Title: The Teso Diabetes Caravan: Bringing Life-Saving Care to 8,000 Rural Patients.
Organization: Aru Consult Impact Hub Limited (ACIM HUB)
Headquarters: Soroti City, Teso Region, Uganda
Funding Platform: Nyamba Uganda

Email: chris.aru@acimhub.org 
Target Districts: Soroti, Kumi, Ngora, Serere, Katakwi, Amuria, Kaberamaido, Bukedea
Total Funding Goal: $44,000 USD
Project Duration: 8 Months

1. Executive Summary & The Ask

Diabetes is rapidly becoming a public health emergency in the Teso sub-region of Eastern Uganda. Unlike HIV or malaria—which have robust awareness campaigns—Type 2 Diabetes remains largely undiagnosed in Teso's rural villages. Patients often present at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital only after developing blindness, kidney failure, or non-healing foot ulcers requiring amputation.

The situation is dire: A 2023 district health assessment revealed that over 60% of diabetic patients in Teso are diagnosed at severe complication stages. The main barriers are:

• Distance: Most sub-counties have no functional glucometers.
• Cost: A single blood sugar test at a private clinic costs 5,000 UGX ($1.35)—a full day's wage for a subsistence farmer.
• Ignorance: Many rural Iteso believe swollen feet and constant thirst are caused by curses or "old age," not a manageable metabolic disease.

The Ask: We are raising $44,000 to launch the "Teso Diabetes Caravan" —an 8-month mobile clinic and community health worker training program. This initiative will take diabetes diagnosis, treatment, and education directly to the poorest villages across 8 districts.

2. The Problem Deep Dive (Teso Context)

Why Teso Region specifically?

The Human Cost: Without intervention, a rural diabetic in Teso faces a 50% chance of developing a severe complication within 3 years of diagnosis. Amputation costs more than most families earn in a year.

3. The Solution: ACIM HUB's Teso Diabetes Caravan

Over 8 months, ACIM HUB will deploy a mobile diabetes unit and train a network of Village Health Teams (VHTs) to create a sustainable, community-led care model.

Three Core Components:

Component 1: Mobile Screening Caravan (Months 1–8)

• A branded 4x4 vehicle converted into a mobile clinic visits 2 villages per week (64 villages total).
• Services: Free blood glucose testing, blood pressure screening, foot examination, and basic eye checks for diabetic retinopathy.
• Referrals: Severe cases are registered at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital's diabetes clinic via a dedicated hotline.

Component 2: VHT Training & Supervision (Months 1–3)

• 50 Village Health Team members from 8 districts undergo a 5-day certification course.
• Curriculum: Recognizing diabetes symptoms, using glucometers, foot care, dietary counseling (low-glycemic local foods), and medication adherence.
• Each VHT receives a starter kit: glucometer, 50 test strips, logbook, and educational flip charts.

Component 3: Continuous Care & Supply Chain (Months 4–8)

• Enrolled patients receive a "Diabetes Passport" (a simple laminated card tracking their glucose history).
• Monthly medicine distribution points established at existing government health centers.
• ACIM HUB provides the first 3 months of Metformin free; patients are transitioned to government supply thereafter.

4. Itemized Budget ($44,000 for 8 Months)

 5. Project Targets & Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

6. Why ACIM HUB? (Credibility & Local Presence)

Headquartered in Soroti City: ACIM HUB is deeply embedded in the Teso community. Our team speaks Ateso, understands local customs, and maintains active relationships with:

• Soroti Regional Referral Hospital (Diabetes Clinic)
• Teso Health Zone (District Health Officers network)
• Soroti University (Department of Public Health)
• Teso Women Development Initiative (community mobilization)

Past Success: ACIM HUB has previously implemented community health projects reaching over 15,000 people in Teso, including malaria prevention, maternal health education, and COVID-19 awareness campaigns.

Sustainability Plan: After 8 months, ACIM HUB will:

1. Hand over 50 trained VHTs to the Ministry of Health's existing supervision structure.
2. Donate the mobile clinic vehicle to the Soroti District Health Office for continued diabetes outreach.
3. Transition enrolled patients to government health center pharmacies for routine medication refills.

 7. Nyamba UG Campaign Strategy

To maximize donations, ACIM HUB will implement these proven crowdfunding tactics:

Storytelling Focus:

• Hero Story: Feature Mama Grace, a 62-year-old widow in Katakwi who lost her eyesight to undiagnosed diabetes. Her story will anchor the campaign video.
• Local Imagery: High-quality photos/videos of Teso landscapes, market days, and health center queues.

Donation Tiers (Suggested for Nyamba UG):

Campaign Timeline (8 Months: June 2026 – January 2027):

 8. Call to Action

The Teso region cannot wait. Every month of delay means more preventable amputations, more families bankrupted by hospital fees, and more children losing parents to a disease that costs less than $1 per month to manage.

With $44,000, ACIM HUB will:

• Screen 8,000 rural villagers.
• Enroll 600 diabetics into care.
• Train 50 permanent community health workers.
• Prevent an estimated 100+ amputations over the next 3 years.

Donate today on Nyamba. Share this campaign with your network. Follow our 8-month journey as we prove that distance and poverty do not have to be death sentences for diabetic patients in Teso.

Together, we bring the clinic to their doorstep.

 For more information:
Aru Consult Impact Hub Limited (ACIM HUB)
Soroti City, Teso Region, Uganda
Email: chris.aru@acimhub.org 
Campaign Link: